St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-10-17
THEY CALL HIM BLESSED.
Memorial Services in Honor OF
the Late Robert Smith.

the Late Robert Smith.
The rain and mud of yesterday after
noon did not deter a large number of
people from assembling in the West
minister Presbyterian church to pay a
deserved tribute, in the way of memorial
| services, to the memory of the late Rev.
Robert Smith. A number of ministers
and Othersi acquainted with the life and
work af Mr.. Smith made brief addresses
narrating the deeds and personal char
acteriStics of the man as he impressed
them.
Rev. c. c. Herriott spoke in particular
of the labOrS of Robert Smith in organ
ling the work on the West side and in
the founding of the Westminster church.
He said: Robert Smith gave largely
and literally to everything, and if
there's anything he now regrets it
is that he couldn't give more. Let us
praise God that such a man ever lived
in this community. Every one re-
spected him and there are men here to-
day who believe in Christianity because
of their seeing what the grace of God
did for Robert Smith. l wish to lay
this last tribute to the memory of
Robert Smith, that in all my acquaint-
ance | never knew, or met, man
Robert Smith,"
Rev. E. R. Pierce, of the Bethel Mis-
sion, was next introduced as the
SUCCESSOR OF ROBERT SMITH
in the work. He spoke briefly ''That
is held most in esteem which accom-
| pliShes the most good for all mankind"
he said, land we meet to-day to
pay tribute to the memory
of Robert Smith. He is not
dead. TO be absent from the body is to
be present with God. Men ON earth,
saved by him, and gl0rified souls in
Heaven praise him as the servant of
best testimonial we can raise to Robert
Smith is to love his idea of good. His
work was largely among the poor, and he
shortened his life by his energy-un-
equaled and unparalleled. Churches
| now make no opposition to his work,
and all lend aid to his successor where
ever he goes. If Robert Smith had not
lived and worked all these years, l
would be worse than nothing in enter
ing into this field.
The pastor next introduced Rev. G.
| ii. Gamble, of the Hebron Baptist
| church. 81 know of no greater honor"
said he, than the privilege of speaking
a few words concerning one who has
lived and wrought for the good of his
| fellow men. He was a man l could
love, man you could always count on,
always with his one hand in the Lords
hand and the other in the hand of his
| fellow men, and man converted clear
| thrOugh-mind, soul, body, pocketbook
and all. Having once given his heart
| to God, he was one of those who had to
preach the gospel. | would there were
more of the same kind-with hearts full
! and running over with the grace of
| GCd. You can go to the river men, the
train men, the SalOonkeepers, and men
with sin written all over their faces and
| speak of Bob Smith and be welcome"
Rev. NJ. d. Terwilliger, superintend-
ent Of the Western Seamen's Friend
| society, next spoke of Robert Smith in
his relation to that work. He said:
''He was man that would impress YOU
as man of God. He had certain
CHRISTIAN DIGNITY
about him that cannot be described.
| lie had the respect of every man in this
| city and the love Of vast majority of
this whole country. lie was walking
Bethel"
A short address by Col. ]. II. David
son concluded the services. 81 am
| glad" he said, ''that Robert Smith has
gone triumphant to his reward. Not
glad because he is dead, but glad be-
cause believe God never takes man
like him until His own good time.
knew Robert Smith as drinking man,
when almost in the throeS of de-
lirium tremens. About 1867 be was
converted at the Jackson Street church
and has since been in the service. Talk
ing to him of prohibition, ETC.. he would
throw it all over and say, "Well, after all,
there's nothing but the grace of God
that q m 6
strong drink, and, having been there he
knew just how to reach their sympa-
thieS. In his fourteen years work he
was the means of saving men in the
Northwest in the timber camps, on
steamboats,, on the railroads, and every
where those outside the churches. a
darling idea Of his was to lect Bethel
home, and when we do this land the
time ought not to be far Distant want
to suggest just one thing, and that is
that it be called the Robert Smith Bethel